Clancy sees red in classic

Source: South Manchester Reporter

North West Counties Division One
Maine Road 1
FC United 2

AN enthralled crowd of more than 3,000 turned out to witness Maine Road take on FC United in a tense encounter on Saturday.

In an end-to-end first half Road were first to cause panic with a desperate melee inside the FC United six-yard box.
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United came straight back with dangerman Stuart Rudd going close from 18 yards, before Tony Coyne shot just wide from close range.

As Road got on top, a good header on by Turner put Neil Chappell through, but his shot lacked the power to trouble Reds’ ‘keeper Ashton.

Richards then went close in the 42nd minute, getting on the end of a pinpoint cross from the impressive Mack.

A minute later saw the best chance yet as Road won a free kick 25-yards out.

Wright stepped up to take it and hit a ferocious swerving shot, acrobatically pushed on to the crossbar by Ashton.

In a feisty end to the half Road full-back Mark Clancy was controversially red-carded, and deep into nine minutes of injury time, Rudd pounced on some indecision by keeper Hall to put FC 1-0 ahead.

In the second half Rhodri Giggs and Matt Carden twice missed chances for United, before 10-man Road hauled themselves level. Mack won a crucial ball in midfield before finding Richards, whose determination took him through two tackles, and his shot squeezed past the desperate dive of keeper Ashton.

United attacked straight from the restart and Hall dropped a cross at the feet of Rudd, who shot over.

Five minutes later Maine Road were close to taking the lead. Mack’s free kick was met by McGee’s head, only to be denied by a great save from Ashton.

As United dominated possession Rudd went close again with a header that clipped the bar.

Maine Road were reliant on the counter attack and it nearly paid off in the 79th minute as some great football between Wright and Richards, allowed Halligan free in the six-yard box, but his shot was cleared off the line.

United’s pressure finally paid off in the 83rd minute when a cross came in from the left, which Road failed to clear.

It fell to the dangerous Rudd, who made up for his earlier miss, driving the ball past a hapless Hall. United should have sewn it up a minute later as Rory Patterson, through on his own, beat the ‘keeper, but not the post.

First published by the South Manchester Reporter